Touchy Feely: TOUCH SCREENS

Touch screens are great. There's no fuss about a crazy mouse, or anything. There is less physical hassle between you and the computer. Touch screens are, without a doubt, advanced when it comes to human-computer communication.

How do they work?
Touch screens are displays that can detect and recognize the presence and location of a touch around the screen area. This touch that the touch screen can recognize can by made by a finger, a hand or even other passive objects such as the stylus. It gives people the ability to directly interact with the computer. The science behind these sleek machines is crisscrossing beams, which is protected by a clear plastic layer which acts like a skin.

Lately, with developments, the kinds of touch that can be recognized by it has increased. Touch seems to have become even more sophisticated.


Some leading providers
Here are some of the leading providers and/or manufacturers of the touch screen:

a. Aurora Multimedia
b. CyberTouch
c. TekVisions
d. TouchSystems Corporation
e. CeroView
f. Crestron Electronics, Inc.
g. Elo TouchSystems
h. Keytec, Inc.
i. Liyitec Inc.
j. Maple Systems, Inc.


More on touch screens
The most significant difference touch screens have with other screens is the recognition of touch, ergo the heightened directness in the interaction between the human and the computer. Different kinds of touch screens on the other hand, differ in which device it is used, and how much variety of touches can it understand. For example, the touch screen of the ATM can only sense one touch - for selecting. Meanwhile, iPhones can sense a different kind of touch for scrolling (dragging your finger up or down the screen), and a different kind of touch for zooming in ("pinching" the screen or "stretching" it).



Touch screens are most widely used in mobile phones. The latest phones today are touch screens, actually. Touch screens are also used in ATMs, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), Satellite Navigation Devices (widely used in Japan, Singapore, the U.S., and countries in Europe; usually found in cars), gaming consoles such as the Nintendo DS, and the LCD monitor.



The touch screen is also used in the iPod - namely the iPod Touch. But touch screens aren't really used that much for mp3 players.




Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_screen
http://www.electronics-manufacturers.com/Electronic_components/Electronic_display_devices/Touch_screen_displays/
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question716.htm
moodle lecture
Accessed August 4,2009

OMR and OCR scanners

OMR Scanners – Optical Mark Reading/Recognition Scanners

• OMR READER is device that recognizes marks made on a sheet of paper with the help of LED (Light Emitting Diodes). This is not an image scanner. The light bounces on to it then the LED will help analyze and interpet for the machine to give out the results.
• OMR SOFTWARE SCANNER is software which needs a image scanner for it to work. The Scanner scans the form then the software reads it then it is able to interpret it on its own.
• The OMR READER is especially for its purpose while the OMR SOFTWARE/ SCANNER can be used for other things like basic scanning.
• It is commonly used for survey forms, tests on a sheet of paper, lottery and gaming.
• It was widely used way back in 1960s although it wasn’t until the 1990s that it was put into the magnifying glass.
• OMR Readers are different from OMR software/scanner although they have the same purpose.
• Other uses could be electronic voting; any kind of testing that involves multiple choices.

SOME PROS AND CONS FOR OMR SCANNERS

Pros:
• Forms are customizable and interchangeable when scanning.
• Image scanners can be used for more than just OMR scanning.
• OMR software forms do not need to be as exact in alignment as OMR reader forms.
• Can optionally read barcodes, handwritten information (ICR) and typed information (OCR).
• Allows you to keep a digitized copy of the form.
• Cheaper than OMR readers.
• Can optionally automatically de-skew. Forms can be automatically rotated to make the images straight.
• Can read blue pen and pencil easily.
• Can read any barcode type the OMR software supports.
• Better automation with automatic ID generation/reconciliation and form personalization.
Cons:
• Cheaper document scanners can only hold small amounts of paper (between 50-100 pages)
• Cheaper document scanners have low duty cycles (around 3000 pages per day)
• Cannot put bubbles as close together as OMR reader forms.
• Cannot physically sort unrecognized documents.
Best suited for:
• Everyone except the cases stated above.

LEADING BRANDS

PDI (Peripheral Dynamics Inc.) is the leading manufacturer of image scanners and the like. Recently, the company has bought VisionShape which was known for there high speed scanning and document processing. In short, the undisputed leading manufacturer is PDI with its 70 companies world wide.

OCR SCANNERS
• Stands for Optical Character Recognition.
• Used to scan images and turn them into text. In other words, it scans pictures and changes them into ASCII so that the computer will be able to understand it as a text.
• OCR is used to save time in typing something that has already been typed.
• OCR has the ability to directly input text into a word processor or spread sheet.
• The leading manufacturer of OCRs is SCAN CORPORATION. Founded in 1984 it is the leading manufacturer of Embedded touch screen PCs and Terminals, Bar code and OCR readers and systems.
• Unlike OMR (optical mark recognition) OCR can ready any image and turn it into text that the computer can understand. OMR can only detect the marks in bubbles of OMR forms.

Sources:
1) What is the Difference Between OMR Readers and OMR Software? Ronald Quast http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-the-Difference-Between-OMR-Readers-and-OMR-Software?&id=2553396 [Accessed August 4, 2009]
2) VisionShape Acquired By Peripheral Dynamics Inc; Document Imaging Capture and Software Toolkits Gain Wider Market BizWire
(09/09/2003 11:31 AM ET) [Accessed August 4, 2009]
3) http://www.scancorporation.com/aboutus.htm [Accessed August 4, 2009]
4) http://www.eeproductcenter.com/showPressRelease.jhtml?articleID=98108
5) http://www.nuance.com/ocr/ © 2002-2009 Nuance Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. [Accessed August 4, 2009]
6) http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roland_Quast

PDA Keyboard

Ever typed a document in a PDA? Notice how difficult it is to type in a hand held device? I'm not saying that typing a Word document in a PDA is an inconvenience; rather, it is more on time consuming, and let's face it, quite uncomfortable.

PDA keyboard is the solution. The usual PDA keyboards are foldable, for easy mobility and storage. This keyboard provides speed to typists and a comfortable handrest for long-term data input into the PDA.

There are different types of PDA keyboards.

There are wireless PDA keyboards, which are either connected through Bluetooth or Infrared. These keyboards are easy to set up because one does not have to worry about any wires to sync it into the PDA.

There are also keyboards that you can simply connect to your PDA. It folds once and can be easily placed in another pocket of your PDA bag. There is also a lock on the outside of the keyboard to keep in locked when not in use. One advantage of this gadget is that it takes no batteries and uses very little of one's PDA battery life. There is a connection where you PDA can fit into perfectly, with a support coming from the back of the keyboard.




Sources:

http://reviews.cnet.com/1990-3127_7-5542515-1.html
http://www.davespda.com/reviews/other/iconcepts.htm
http://www.compupen.com/Pen2Net_Advantages/pen2net_advantages.html

Flexible Keyboard

A Flexible Keyboard.

Sounds interesting , doesn't it? By the word, FLEXIBLE, to describe a keyboard, can make one wonder. How does a flexible keyboard work?

Flexible keyboards are constructed from high quality silicon. This material makes the keyboard very flexible yet incredibly durable and tough enough to be shoved into a laptop bag. It fits easily in briefcase, backpack or notebook carrying bag. It is convenient for easy packing and portability. There is no need to worry about any sharp edges. The keys are designed to have soft touch technology which makes typing silent. This soft-touch, quick tactile key action is more comfortable than traditional hard plastic keyboards.

The flexible keyboard does not have any chemical smell. You can say that it is quite odorless. You even do not have to worry about liquid spills, especially coffee spills when in the office, or milk spills caused by your little kids or cousins. Behold, the flexible keyboard is both washable and hygienic. It can be cleaned with water, alcohol or disinfectant to help prevent the spread of disease and germs. Dust can easily be wiped off using a damp cloth.

There are also illuminated flexible keyboards. These are perfect for night shifts. However, the luminescence feature doesn't actually shine through the keys to show what letters one may be pressing.

Models:
o Mini sized (85 Keys)
o Full sized (109 Keys)

Types of connection:
o USB
0 PS2 controller.










Sources:
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20060722/flexible-keyboard/
http://www.walyou.com/blog/2009/07/10/illuminated-flexible-keyboard/
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4030
http://targus.ca/ca/product_details.asp?sku=AKB13CA
http://www.usbgeek.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=0194

Speakers

1. How it Works

A speaker is essentially the final translation machine. It gets the electrical signal translating it back into physical vibrations, creating sound waves. It then is encoded to a CD or to the hard drive.

2. Uses
Speakers are mainly used for hearing sounds from the computer.

3. Other Uses
Just like voice recognition systems, speakers help people with disabilities to be able to work on the computer.

4. Leading Providers
-Z-2300 2.1 Speaker System Editors' choice
-Altec Lansing inMotion iM600
-Energy Take Classic Editors' choice

Works Cited
Works Cited
"HowStuffWorks "How Speakers Works"" Howstuffworks "Electronics" Web. 04 Aug. 2009.
CNET.com-http://reviews.cnet.com/1770-5_7-0.html?tag=mncol%3Bsort&query=speaker&searchtype=products&rpp=10&sort=popularity+asc

Voice Recognition System

1. How it Works
A voice recognition system comprises of the microphone, sound card, and voice recognition software.
First, to convert speech to data, or to an on-screen text or a computer command, it needs an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to be able to interpret or decode the analog wave into digital data so that the computer would be able to understand. Next, the signal is divided into small segments in the case of plosive consonant sounds, which are consonant stops produced by obstructing airflow in the vocal tract like “p” or “t”. Phonemes are programs which match the segments and are representations of the sounds that humans make and they combine them to form meaningful expressions.
Then, the software analyzes the phonemes around it. It uses a complex statistical model and then relates it to a large library of words, phrases, and sentences. Finally, the software verifies what the user is saying then it makes an output by giving a text or a computer command.

2. Its main use
-For persons with disabilities to prevent them from typing, especially for those visually impaired.

3. Other uses
-Automated voice recordings for most large companies, instructing one to tell their choice for a given menu
-Convert a voice to a text document or email


4. Leading Providers
-Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 Preferred:
*could skip dictation setup
*slimmer toolbar
*allows voice command to browse Web pages
*lets you drop the mouse and keyboard while typing
*handy transcription tools
*support for PDAs and Bluetooth headsets.
*Only for Windows
-Windows Speech Recognition
-IBM ViaVoice 10Standard
-MacSpeech Dictate


Works Cited
"HowStuffWorks "How Speech Recognition Works"" Howstuffworks "Electronics" Web. 04 Aug. 2009. .
Consumer Search. “Voice Recognition Software: Reviews “
http://www.consumersearch.com/voice-recognition-software/review

Printing, Scanning and Copying as a Sport

By Margaret Anne I.Garcia

In its recent outburst of various teams and varsities, especially with the UA&P season in full swing, the administration has forgotten to acknowledge its most widely known and highly anticipated sport: Printing Scanning and Copying within the campus.

For those who aren't familiar with the game, here are a few basics. It is midterm season, and waves of stressed out students are rushing to the nearest photocopying machines to get the latest copy of readings, thronging at every printer in school to reach deadlines. Papers are crucial to the game; players without papers to submit or readings to study are immediately disqualified.

The pressure is on. There is a reading that needs to be photocopied in SOM, some scanning and printing to be done at RMT, then a test to rush to right afterwards. Competitors hurtle down the hallways at breakneck speed, obliviously knocking down anyone in their path. This is when players are in the zone.

Most outsiders view this as a harmless and nonviolent pastime. To those who actually take part in the activity, it is anything but.

Is there no way to make life simpler for the mind-wrecked drones of students? Will our photocopying Ates and printing Kuyas ever be safe from the harassment of academically abused students? Well, maybe not, but luckily technology has its way of mitigating even the worst situations. The key: Multifunctional Devices. It is a machine which incorporates the functionality of multiple devices in one to provide more systematic document management, distribution and production. That’s right, it can print, scan and copy and the best thing is, it’s all in one machine. Why run from one computer room that can’t print in colored to one that can but can’t scan then rush to another part of school that has a photocopier but not a printer and a scanner? If every place in school had complete capabilities, we could save our energy for our philo orals instead of running around.

Aside from not having to move around so much just to get a copy and print something on the other side of school, MFD´s offer a convenient way to move documents digitally. Many MFD’s are network compatible and have a built-in network card so they can be hooked into the company’s network to be used by anyone connected to the network.

However, PSC demands skill, technique and competitiveness. And these machines have actually come a long way from its humble beginnings. These babies are on high speed, high on quality output, and highly advanced in functionality and productivity. With the need for effective document distribution becoming more and more important in today´s school environment, MFDs can provide meaningful benefits for everyone who needs the functions and those who want to make money out of providing these services.

The main advantage of MFDs is multi-location usage; they can be conveniently used in the office or at home. For general applications, scanning, printing and faxing is as good with standalone machines. However, for specialised usage, standalones serve the purpose better. For instance, the quality of the zoom and sorter feature in our MFD's scanner is almost same as that of a regular office-use scanner. The image quality and resolution in printing is as good as that of a regular office-use printer.

According to a new report from InfoTrends entitled U.S. Consumer Imaging End-User Scanner Survey: 2008, the trend toward using multifunctional devices with scanning capabilities for scanning is becoming as prevalent in the consumer environment as it is among business users. When asked to describe their primary scanner (i.e., the one they used the most), nearly 85% of survey participants indicated an all-in-one (AIO) device of some kind. Survey participants were also asked to identify the type of scanner that they would most likely purchase if they did not have a scanner and were planning to buy one. All-in-one devices with scanning capabilities were the clear favorite, capturing nearly three quarters of the responses.

In addition, owners of all-in-one devices were asked why they would choose to use an all-in-one scanner over a single-function device. The most common responses were that all-in-ones are easier to use, faster, or offer better image quality. Multifunctional devices with scanning capabilities have helped breathe new life into this market because they can also be used for printing, copying, or faxing.

If your school or office is currently littered with multiple scanners, printers, copiers and faxes, you can save on equipment costs and service agreements, as well as space, by investing in MFCs that can each do the work of four machines. And there are plenty of very smart machines available, it’s just a matter of searching for the one that suits you best. For general applications, scanning, printing and faxing through MFDs is as good as that offered by standalone machines. But then, you might have more specialized needs.

Sources:

Scanning in Consumer Environment Shifting to Multifunctional Devices. InfoTrends. 27 May 2008. Taken from the database of InfoTrends.com: http://www.infotrends-rgi.com/public/Content/Press/2008/05.31.2008.html.

Multifunctional Device Buying Guide. Multifunctional Devices. Retrieved on: 4 August 2009. Taken from the database of MultifunctionalDevices.co.uk: http://www.multifunctionaldevices.co.uk/multifunctional-device-buying-guide.html

Are MFD’s Better than Standalones?. Team Digit. 1 March 2005. Taken from the Database of ThinkDigit.com: http://www.thinkdigit.com/General/Are-MFDs-Better-Than-Standalones_1853.html

Get a Data Projector!

Data Projectors: For the more imaginitive people out there.

So how do data projectors work? Data projectors take a video signal and project the image using a lens system. They utilize a very bright light and can be configured to fit the user’s preference. However, it must be noted that there are several type of date projectors. Lets take a look at some of these in detail.

An LCD projector sends light from a Metal halide lamp that goes through a prism which separates it into three poly silicone panels to cater to the red, green and blue components of a video signal. When the light strikes through the panels, individual pixels can be opened or closed, either allowing or blocking the light to pass. The combination of opened and closed pixels is able to produce different ranges of colors.

DLP projectors use digital micromirror devices.

LCOS projectors use liquid crystal on silicon

LED projectors use Light Emitting Diodes as light source

So now that we have an idea of the available types of data projectors and how they work, here is a list of some of the worldwide brands that offer this product.

a. Sharp
b. Casio
c. Octava
d. Canon
e. Sony
f. Optoma
g. Epson
h. Hitachi
i. JVC
j. Sanyo
k. Mitsubishi
l. Panasonic
m. InFocus
n. Planar
o. BenQ
p. Acer
q. Barco
r. Lenovo
s. Lumens
t. Samsung
u. Texas Instruments
v. Toshiba

As you can see, data projectors are quite popular as they appear on the product line of numerous brands.

Being that their main purpose is to project imagery coming from a source, lets take a look ath some of the other similar devices that somewhat have the same functions and purpose.

The television screen is a basic example, with it's purpose being to transmit images coming from a signal. The main difference between this and a data projector is that the images are projected on the tv screen while for data projectors, images are projected from the device onto a separate screen. The same can be said for standard computer monitors who take the signal from the CPU and then projects the image on itself. Data projectors do the same except that again, the image comes from it and is projected on a screen

You may be wondering what use a data projector might have. Well, in the modern world, data projectors are often used in clasroom settings in giving lectures and are espcially helpful in presentations, which is not limited to only educational purposes. In addition to that, data projectors can also be used for less serious purposes such as for a home entertainment theater and for live events. If you think more creatively, you can even use them if you want a wider screen when playing your favorite video game! Data projectors have many uses and sometimes you just have to think out of the box to figure some of them out.

Sources:
http://sharp-world.com/products/data_projector/index.html
http://www.projectorreviews.com/
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?data+projector
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_projector

It's all in the wrists: JOY STICKS

Where are the latest technological innovations based? YOUR OWN HANDS.

More and more computer devices are becoming motor-sensitive to the human hand. Two of such devices are the joystick and touch screens.



The Joy in Sticks



Joysticks are probably one of the oldest input devices that was dependent on the dexterity of the human hand. It pivots on a base and sends information about its angles to the computer. The information it send is basically dependent on pressure, speed and direction to which it is manipulated. Joysticks also usually have push buttons for other commands such as select.

It is widely used in gaming, but lately it is also used in mobile phones. It appears smaller in mobile phones though. Joysticks are also used in complicated machines such as cranes, trucks, underwater unmanned vehicles, zero turning radius lawn mowers and of course, wheelchairs.



Joysticks are very useful, you see! They're not just for playing......video games.

Because of the many uses of joysticks, there are a lot of manufacturers of it. It's hard to pinpoint who the best joystick maker in general is. Among these many manifacturers, there are these:

1. Gamtec Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
2. Padix Company Limited
3. Senett Control Co., Ltd.
4. Shenzhen Hais Electronic Co., Ltd.
5. Veko Electronic (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
6. Saitek
7. Logitech
8. Guillemont
9. CH Products

The different joysticks differ on how much information they pass on. For example, the joysticks in mobile phones are much more simple than the joystick used to control a crane.


SOURCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joystick

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/joystick.htm

http://www.electronics-manufacturers.com/Computers/Input_devices/Joystick/

moodle lecture

accessed on Aug. 4, 2009

access granted!

A magnetic card stores any form of digital data that can accumulate more than one hundred bytes of information. It is a rectangular plastic object with a magnetic object embedded to the card, which looks very similar to that of a credit card.

A magnetic card reader therefore serves as a microcontroller-based device programmed to read and interpret the card in a simpler data format. It is used in scanning cards that have magnetic data strips with it. It functions by reading and processing the stored information from the moment the card is swiped through a slot in the reading device. Another way for a magnetic card reader to work is simply by holding the card near the reader.

A magnetic card reader is very useful especially for companies and businesses. As the card is swiped through a reader, the code is then programmed enabling the user to access the code easily. Like for instance, magnetic card readers are commonly seen in department stores, shops and the like. The reader processes the data as the card is swiped through it, whenever the customer makes a purchase. The time of the employee, as well as the customer becomes valuable as magnetic card readers help make transactions efficient. Another important usage of magnetic card readers is to secure private data. A personnel can only have access to data once the reader is able to verify the information provided by the card.

There are numerous card readers available like that of the memory card reader and smart card reader, each having their specialized functions. The magnetic card reader is more affordable and easier to program as compared to other devices. However, there are also disadvantages in using such device. The device is very susceptible to errors and malfunctioning like that of the reader misreading the card, card wear and the data being corrupted. Such faults will also endanger the company’s record of data and even lead to the miscounting of inventory.

Sources:

http://www.work.com/magnetic-stripe-card-readers-basics-22773/

http://www.tech-faq.com/magnetic-card-reader.shtml

http://www.tech-faq.com/smart-card.shtml

http://www.allmemorycards.com/